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The people of Sumer and the people of Babylon (the civilization that was built on the ruins of Sumer) were divided into four classes – the priests, the upper class, the lower class, and the slaves.
Who was the top of the social structure in ancient Sumer?
At the very top of this class system were the rulers and the priests. Religion was extremely important in Sumerian cities, so these two groups were basically one in the same. At the very top of the ruling class was a king or priest, who was a nearly divine figure himself.
Who were part of the middle class in Mesopotamia?
In the middle class were artisans, merchants, farmers, and fishers. These people made up the largest group. The upper classes of ancient Mesopotamia included kings and their families, priests and priestesses, ranking military officers, scribes and wealthier merchants and traders.
Who made up the lower class in Sumerian society?
The lower class was made up of laborers and farmers. These people lived a harder life, but could still work their way up with hard work. At the bottom were the slaves. Slaves were owned by the king or bought and sold among the upper class.
What was summer like in Mesopotamia?
Is the Area Still a Semi-Arid Region? Ancient Mesopotamia used to have about 10 inches of rain per year and very hot temperatures – in summer average temperatures reached 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Modern-day Iraq and Syria have an arid climate. They have hot, dry summers and short cool winters.
What did the middle class do in Mesopotamia?
Ancient Mesopotamia was divided into a tiny upper class made up of the king and other wealthy aristocrats, priests, and scribes, and a middle class made up of craftsmen, merchants, and civil servants. Everyone else, you know, the laborers and farmers, made up the much larger lower class.
What groups were in the upper class?
Many politicians, heirs to fortunes, top business executives such as CEOs, successful venture capitalists, and celebrities are considered members of the upper class. Some prominent and high-rung professionals may also be included if they attain great influence and wealth.
What are the different types of social classes?
Types of Social Classes of People. 1 The lower class. The lower class is typified by poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. People of this class, few of whom have finished high school, 2 The working class. 3 The middle class. 4 The upper class.
There were a total of four social classes under the city-state of Sumer. They were: The King, the priest, the middle class, and the slaves. The King was the ruler of the region. He acted as the direct link between the gods and the people. The middle included armies and military personnel who fought bravely for the safety of the region.
What was the role of the middle class in Sumer?
This class mainly consisted or traders, merchants and the artisans who earned as per their skill in business, trading or manufacturing. The middle class had to work hard to make their lives comfortable but still had plenty to eat and spend.
The highest Sumerian social class were the priests. They told people what to do to keep the gods happy, and they were the people society turned to when they were sick. Priests usually had shaved heads. Below the priests were the upper classes.